Tientos

The critic of Flamenco, Juan Vergillos in his book “Knowing Flamenco, its styles, its history” tells us that the Tientos have a relatively recent appearance, originating at the end of the 19th century, or the beginning of the 20th century.

As happens with tangos and other songs, the Tientos say they originate from Cádiz or Jerez, depending on the way they are made.

The Tientos, come from another flamenco style, the Tangos, from which they adopt their compás, the traditional copla, the modal character and the accompaniment “por en medio” of the guitar.

Many historians agree in naming the singer, Enrique el Mellizo, as the first performer of flamenco tientos. Other flamencologists say that another singer of recognized prestige and of whom I have already spoken on other occasions, Antonio Chacón, recreated the interpretation of Enrique el Mellizo’s Tientos, thus creating a style that was later widely used by other singers, such as: Manuel Torre and La Niña de los Peines.

The tientos are a binary form of the tango group. There is a type of composition in classical music that is usually called tiento (singular) and has nothing to do with the previous definition.

Metrically, the copla de los tientos consists of three or four eight-syllable lines followed by a refrain. It comes from flamenco tango, although its rhythm is slower, which is why it was originally called tiento tango. The singer El Marrurro has traditionally been considered one of the creators of this style. Henry the Twin gave it the modern form by which we know it today. Other famous singers who interpreted this style were Antonio Chacón and Pastora Pavón.

The tientos are sung over couplets with four octosyllabic verses in which some of them are repeated, resulting in the following scheme: 2-1-2-3-4-3-4. Choruses of 3 verses are also sung after each couplet.

How to dance por Trientos

The Por Tientos dance requires what in Flamenco we call “weight” because it is a slow dance, with a great dramatic charge, and that has a depth similar to other styles, such as the Soleá and the Síguiriya.

It is danced with great elegance, solemnity, and dramatic intensity. Almost always the Tientos are finished off with some tangos, how I spoke to you in the article that refers to the Tangos, since it is a type of dance, with a festive character, which, due to its easy rhythm, has become the star style of parties and family gatherings. In its origins, the whole world, although later a stylization of said dance was made, to take it to the stage. Dominated by light poses, he has a rather sensual character. determined by its Cuban origins, and allowing many interpretations and improvisations.